Jose Santos was the Chief Justice from 1941 to 1942 but was unable to preside over
the Supreme Court due to the outbreak of World War II. He was executed by Japanese
forces during the occupation.

JOSE SANTOS

Santos served as Secretary of Justice from 1921 to 1923. In July 1923, he resigned
as Secretary of Justice together with other department secretaries as a result of
the controversy between Governor-General Leonard Wood and Filipino leaders,

Santos then acted as Chief Counsel of the President of the Philippine Senate and
to the Speaker of the House of Representatives. He was again appointed Secretary
of Justice in 1928. In 1932, he became an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.
He became its Chief Justice in December 1941. Santos accompanied the Commonwealth
government to Corregidor, where he administered the oath of office to President
Quezon and Vice-President Osmeña for the second term. He also undertook, with Manuel
Roxas, the supervision of the destruction of Commonwealth government currency to
prevent its falling into enemy hands.

President Quezon appointed him Acting President with full authority to act in the
name of, and on behalf, of the President of the Philippines in areas unoccupied by
the Japanese. In April 1942 he was captured by the Japanese and was shortly afterwards
was executed.